Aretha Franklin, Clive Davis and Barry Manilow pose for a portrait backstage at the "Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives" Premiere during the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival at Radio City Music Hall on April 19, 2017 in New York City.

Music mogul Clive Davis has celebrated his legacy with the debut of a documentary about his life during the opening night of the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival.

Hudson then took the stage, singing a soulful rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" followed by a tribute to the late Houston, whom Davis treated like a daughter, as depicted in the doc.

The film, titled Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives, is based on Davis' 2013 memoir of the same name, according to Billboard. Even Kenny G, master of mom jazz himself, turns up to extol the "Man With the Golden Ears", the sobriquet Davis' talent-spotting prowess has earned him. Carly Simon and Earth, Wind and Fire brought us back to the '70s before Dionne Warwick emerged, all grace and elegance in a jeweled red pantsuit, and proved that her legendary voice is as strong today as it was when she and Clive first collaborated decades ago.

Franklin spoke briefly about her long working relationship with Davis, saying, "What a wonderful, caring, caring humanitarian".

Others shared the sentiment on-screen. He lost his parents while he was an undergraduate at New York University, and later attended Harvard Law School. "I had no money after my parents died, so I went through school on scholarships".

"I wasn't going to miss this evening", said Franklin, who asked forgiveness for missing some notes as she recovered from an upper respiratory infection.

"I think the film beautifully captures the real Whitney that you have never seen", Davis told Inside Edition.

"What a movie", Manilow yelled before he sang some of his popular hits.

While often you hear musicians complaining about record industry executives, singer Judy Collins, a long-time friend of the 85-year-old Davis, said he's a different kind of record company guy.

"Apple is a global innovator that has revolutionized the distribution of music".